The Le Sueur County Pioneer Power Association hosted its annual Swap Meet at its showgrounds near Le Sueur Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 26-28.
More than 800 vendors were registered for the meet, which is considered one of the largest in the nation.
Whether you were looking for antiques, collectibles, car and tractor parts, hardware, power equipment, toys, clothing, home-made candies and maple syrup or hand-crafted items, chances are someone had something you were looking for.

The weather held out long enough for the New Prague Trojan girls golf team to compete in three tournaments last week. Two of them were Wright County Conference meets at Baker National and the other was the New Prague Invitational.
The Trojans have two meets scheduled for the week ahead. They compete in the Northfield Invitational at Willingers GC Thursday, May 2, and will host a rescheduled WCC East Meet at CreeksBend GC on Monday, May 6.

Irma Emma Kohout, 95, of Montgomery, passed away on Thursday, April 25, 2019, at The Lutheran Home in Belle Plaine. Private family services will be held. Interment will be held in Calvary Cemetery in Montgomery.
Irma was born on January 1, 1924 in Rice County to William and Anna (Hanek) Turek. Irma was united in marriage to Edward Filipek on February 12, 1941, and to Edward Kohout on May 4, 1973.

Kenneth James “Ken” Pasek, age 64, of Montgomery, died Wednesday, April 24, 2019, at his residence in Montgomery.  Ken was born on April 18, 1955 in New Prague to James C. and Alice Marie (Kroyer) Pasek.  He grew up in New Prague and graduated from New Prague High School.  During high school, he worked for Bilek Bakery and immediately after high school, he began work at the flour mill and worked there until 2011.  Ken loved music, movies, and show cars.

Gilbert Ray Schoenbauer, age 81, of Jordan, died peacefully, surrounded by his family on Friday, April 26, 2019, at Abbott-Northwestern Hospital. Gilbert was born on July 31, 1937 in Helena Township, Scott County, MN to William and Walburga (Busch) Schoenbauer. He was raised in the St. Benedict area and attended St. Wenceslaus Catholic School and New Prague High School and was a member of the US Army Reserve. He married the love of his life, Shirley Valek on May 10, 1958 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Lonsdale.

The group of (left to right, front row) Ashlyn Osborne, Courtney Dragone, Maggie Jirik, Georgia Trygestad; (back row) Evan Zimmer, Nathan Osborne, Dylan Shimek and Brady Aune had completed the Grand March during Prom at New Prague High School’s gym on Saturday, April 27. More than 300 couples were taking part in the annual Prom. The evening continued at the Park Ballroom with dinner and a dance. An After Prom Party would be held later in the evening. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

In celebration of Arbor Day, Rice County Master Gardeners gave away free tree seedlings from the Minnesota DNR at the Lonsdale Feed Mill on Friday, April 26 from 3:30 p.m. until gone.

The New Prague Fire Department put out a grass fire near the intersection of 10th Avenue SE and 300th Street in Le Sueur County around 2 p.m. on Friday, April 26. The property owner, Bevcomm, was burning some brush, which they had a permit for, when the fire got out of hand. The fire department quickly had the flareup under control. Also on scene was the Le Sueur County Sheriff’s Office. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

The New Prague Trojans adapted softball team opened its season with a 12-5 loss to Chaska/Chanhassen/Shakope e/Prior Lake, then rebounded with a 15-5 win over South Suburban last week. Both games were at home.
The Trojans will play South Washington Thursday, April 25, at East Ridge High School in Woodbury, then play at South Suburban Tuesday, April 30, at Bloomington Jefferson. They return home Thursday, May 2, facing Burnsville/Farmington/ Lakeville.

The New Prague Trojan boys lacrosse team won its debut match Tuesday, April 16, defeating Southwest Christian of Chaska 9-3. They followed with an 11-6 loss to Waconia on Thursday, April 18, and a one-goal win over Chaska Monday, April 22.
New Prague was scheduled to host Owatonna Tuesday, April 23. They will host Mankato on Friday, April 26, at 5 p.m. and Waconia on Monday, April 29, at 6:30 p.m.

The Dakota-Rice-Scott Baseball League begins its 73rd season Sunday, April 28, with six games on the schedule.
The league includes 13 teams - 12 of which are Class C teams. Elko is the lone Class B team. The Express will play each league team once, while the rest of the league will play a double round-robin schedule for a total of 23 league games.

In about a year, the landscape of New Prague’s Main Street will be changing.
A major reconstruction of State Highway 19 - New Prague’s Main Street - will take place next summer. Beginning from just west of the stoplights at 10th Avenue on the east side to the four-way stop intersection with Highway 21 on the west side, the entire pavement will be removed, underground utilities - many of which are 100 years old - will be replaced, including connections into buildings, and a new roadway will be put in place - hopefully to last another 100 years.

The New Prague Chamber of Commerce has a new assistant as Amber Fischer began that job on Monday, April 15. She will be working with Chamber Executive Director Brooke Sticha on the array of chamber sponsored events from the upcoming New Prague Half- Marathon, 5K and Fun Run on Saturday, May 4, to this fall’s Dozinky Festival.

Joseph “Joe” William Schatz, 70, of Lexington, passed away on Wednesday, April 24, 2019, at his home. Visitation will be on Tuesday, April 30 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Le Center Funeral Home in Le Center. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 1 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Le Center, with visitation one hour prior at the church. Interment will be in St. Joseph Cemetery in Lexington.
Joe was born on April 8, 1949, in Faribault to Joseph and Marian Katherine (Stasney) Schatz. Joe was a graduate of Montgomery High School and Austin Jr. College.

"Own it!"
That was the simple message St. Peter city administrator Todd Prafke told members of the New Prague Economic Development Authority and the New Prague Chamber of Commerce when the two held a joint meeting Wednesday, April 17, in the New Prague City Hall.

A man from Lexington Township has died in a single tractor rollover on Wednesday, April 24.
Joseph William Schatz, 70, was pronounced dead at the scene after Le Sueur County deputies found him trapped under a tractor. Sheriff Brett Mason said the sheriff’s office received the report at approximately 9:40 a.m. The deputies, along with Le Center Fire Department, Le Center Ambulance Service and North Air Care responded to the scene in Lexington Township.
Mason said Schatz was extricated and life-saving efforts were performed, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.